Family held at Malaysia torch relay

The Japanese family arrested for unfurling the Tibetan flag was released without any charge [AFP]

Strict security

The Olympic torch was carried through Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital, under tight security, to avoid the chaos that has plagued the relay in Paris, London, Athens and San Francisco.

Malaysian police had deployed 1,000 officers along the 16.5km route of the torch relay.

Security concerns have forced the authorities in Indonesia, Australia and Japan, the torch's upcoming stops, to change or shorten their routes, with Indonesia opting to have spectators on an invitation-only basis.

Malaysia had warned that anybody disrupting the torch

relay would be arrested.

Imran Jaafar, the president of the Olympic council of Malaysia, was the first to run with the torch, accompanied by

uniformed policemen and motorcycle outriders.

Jaafar said: "I am very excited, very honoured to be the first runner. The honour is not just for myself, but also

for the country."

Supporters clash

Chinese say their country can not be split [AFP]

Chinese nationals who gathered along the route shouted "Taiwan and Tibet belong to China" and "No one

can split China".

They attacked the Japanese family which unfurled the Tibetan flag at the beginning of the relay with plastic batons.